[hider=Ash]
[b]Ash of the Whitelands[/b]
[i]"No gloriae suae in bello"[/i]

[b]Full name:[/b] Ash, or Ash of the Whitelands, denoting his humble origin.

[b]Titles:[/b] The Sellsword Scholar, and the less flattering titles of Ser Whoreson and Knightslayer

[b]Social rank:[/b] Whoreson peasant.

[b]Job or societal position:[/b] Black Knight Sellsword. Part time teacher and folk entertainer.

[b]Gender:[/b] Male

[b]Appearance:[/b] He's an average sized, well built man, with dark scruffy hair and a clean-shaved face. He has gray eyes that give him a piercing, vivid stare. Cuts and chinks can be seen throughout his body, a couple of them on his face. He usually wears worn out and simple but serviceable clothes, and a black, equally worn but still useable armor (it's painted black to prevent rust) when in combat.  He walks with carefully measured steps and he has a deep voice.

[b]Personality:[/b] Despite his ignoble origin, Ash is a polite and well mannered man. He always answers a greeting, and answers with the utmost respect to whomever talks to him, be it noble or gentile. He's also rather patient and slow to anger, with an almost nigh unflappable stoicism. Yet at the same time, one could feel that sometimes he's not here, and just stares at the horizon rather than at people, reliving who knows what demons of the past. Lowborn, whores and orphans do manage to bring some more reaction in the man, and he's known to have a chipper, quick-wit and enthusiastic easygoing attitude with them. He is also more than willing to share his knowledge and experience to whomever lends him an ear, and he's partial to honest plights. Meeting him on the battlefield or as enemy is another matter. Bereft of any kind of remorse or honor, Ash strives to survive and win to see another morning, and he has very few qualms on using underhanded methods.

[b]History:[/b] Ash was simply a byproduct of a camp follower and an unnamed man-at-arms in the Whitelands. He could have ended like many street rats and pickpockets, if it had not been for the hardest and most clever decision his mother had: To give him to a wandering troupe of entertainers after some convincing. Even from his early age, Ash revealed himself as a bright lad and a fast learner, and some of the troupe felt that they had to polish the formidable intellect the boy had, out of goodwill. They taught him manners, literature and writing, in the hopes he could become one of the narrators of the troupe. They weren't so successful at teaching him to sing and dance, as the poor lad was unfortunately tonedeaf, but he managed to pick other skills to compensate, like knowledge of healing and poisons from the troupe's wise woman, and some minor sleight-of-hand tricks to draw and interest peasants.

By the time he was a young man, he had already made a name for himself among the troupe, becoming one of the storytellers while others did the dancing and singing, as well as one of the faces for negotiation, given his politeness and wit. Unfortunately, he had also hit the foolish age where everyone wanted to be a knight and save and kingdom, and in a regrettable hotheaded decision, parted with the troupe to become a sellsword. Of course, his actual fighting ability was made much fun of by the time he tried to join, but the wizened leader of the sellsword group decided to keep him around, if only because he had prized skills like healing, poisons and writing. Knowing fully well his status as ''favored kid'' of the leader, he trained diligently and tried his best to not make mistakes. He also swallowed his qualms about doing less than regrettable brigand jobs, in an effort to become more like the mercenaries that he had surrounded himself with. However, it was all for naught, because even as he managed to garner himself a name among the mercenaries and become one of the de-facto liutenants of the band, he kept meeting scorn and cold shoulders. When a quarrel about payment shares broke between him and other lieutenants, Ash realized that no matter what he did, he would always be treated as an outsider by everyone. Skilled enough to beat knights in single combat, yet lowborn. Capable of philosophical debates yet as base as the son of a prostitute.

Heartbroken and bitter by the many horrors he chose to endure pursuing an empty ideal, he returned to his homeland, only to find the shadow of the war haunting the lands, and a rather cold and crude gravestone where his mother once stood. Still, he decided to stay, and perhaps make himself a place little by little, starting by subverting the suspiciousness of people around him by entertaining folks and doing odd errands.

[b]Skills: [/b] Ash is an incredibly mentally gifted individual. He has a good grasp of a variety of subjects like tactics, economics, literature, manners and even odd things like castle building and sieges. He is also a good sellsword, able to use competently swords, shields, daggers, and bows, and skilled on horseback and with lances. He can also do some minor prestidigitation tricks like vanishing coins and minor escapism. He is a decent storyteller. He is rather skilled in the arts of healing as well as poisons, though people only know him for the poison part and his skill at arms.

[b]Dreams and fears:[/b]He dreams of finding a good place to settle in, without even having to resort to the sword again. Sadly, in these times, his sword is all what he has to earn himself a living, as he's considered a foul person even by fellow peasants. He fears dying alone and forgotten, and losing himself to the madness of war and forgetting how to be kind.

[b]Favored equipment:[/b] He's usually seen in comfortable, humble clothes with a dagger by his hip and a money purse when he's not in combat. When he's fully suited, he dons a black-painted armor, with a black shield and a longsword. Or alternatively a bow. He keeps the armor, arrows and weapons on his horse's saddlebags when he's not fighting. He also owns three books. One about healing and poisons, the other about war tactics, and the third one is his personal diary.  He also keeps some oil and a whetstone to polish and keep his gear, as well as a flint.

[b]Extra:[/b] He owns a warhorse named Spot he won in a bet. It's quite a temperamental stallion and has a rather worrying fondess for wine. All his worldly possessions can fit on his horse's saddlebags.
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[hider=Brier Weade][center][B]Brier Weade[/B]
[i]"We can only move forward"[/i][/center]

[indent][b]Full name:[/b] Brier Catryn Weade / Brier Catryn Morrigh
[b]Titles:[/b] Countess of Blackwood (Formerly), Kitty for her friends, and Witch of Blackwood to her detractors.
[b]Social rank:[/b] Noblewoman
[b]Job or societal position:[/b] Former Royal Court Musician, Countess, Healer and Alchemist.
[b]Age:[/b] 20
[b]Gender:[/b] Female

[b]Appearance:[/b][img]http://digital-art-gallery.com/oid/33/640x991_7266_Sortilegio_2d_illustration_fantasy_medieval_woman_girl_portrait_picture_image_digital_art.jpg[/img] 

[b]Personality:[/b] Brier was once a high spirited merry girl who always questioned everyone and everything. Sociable and curious to the extreme, she wasn't put off by appearances or standing whatshoever. She also shared the generous good nature of her elder brother Gregar Weade, as well as the lack of malice. Like her sibling, this bit her in the back quite a few times at first, but as she grew older, more focused and wiser, she learned how to read the intentions of people and developed a friendly, polite, but very defensive demeanor. Brier is a woman of intellect and culture and she enjoys learning new knowledge or discussing with akin minds. Bitterly accepting that not everyone is nice, and that there are wicked people out of there, she can be quite vindictive, throughout and manipulative if any member of her family is at stake.

[b]History:[/b] Brier was born between the twins Janus and Gregar, and the thirdborn Joakim. Little Brier was a chatterbox and a relentless chaser of odd things, when she wasn't too busy sticking to Gregar like glue. She however, didn't neglect her education, and she followed her mother diligently just as Gregar did with their father. Education that was soon put to test, as she tended to her younger brother Joakim whenever others were not available. When Gregar's bethrodal was announced, Brier was for the first time, wary of an stranger coming to the house, but soon took a liking to Lady Elisandre as the elder sister she never had. By Elisandre's suggestion, Brier managed to convince his father the Duke to go to the King's court to receive more education.

Although initially reluctant, her family conceded to Brier's petition, as becoming part of the court and with Brier's easygoing nature, she would probably find a good groom later on. With her skill with the harp and sociable nature, Brier found herself befriended several people of all sorts. While comfortable with the people of her age and social status like princes, princesses, and sons and daughters of other nobles, Brier's sharp mind also sought out three people that usually were beneath notice: the King's spymaster, an old alchemist who had somehow gained prestige as royal advisor, and a portly and coarse yet skilled woman who was the Royal Physician.

Brier would seek their presence whenever she felt the whole court scenery and upbringing was too repetitive and dull, and she ended up learning several skills that a noblewoman was not suppossed to have in the first place. The ability to read people's lies in their faces, alchemy and healing arts. Brier didn't know how dangerous this combination was until much later, a year after Elisandre's death. While playing matchmaking to find her a suitable husband, Brier unadvertedly drove all of them off with her skill to read people. Only one succeeded to not be cowed, earl Kevin Morrigh of Blackwood. 

Earl Kevin was perhaps thirty years her elder and he was looking for a second wife after the first one had died without giving him any descendants. He was a stout man of rotund features, a bristly beard, a large booming voice, and the most important feature of them all. He didn't even bother to hide his true intentions in the slightlest. He had heard rumours of Brier being a healer and an alchemist, and precisely for that he was proposing her. He also acknowledged he didn't have a big status as nobleman, but he had a rather important mining and timber site in the Ironhills. He did not want a wife who only stood idlely to be coddled. Brier was taken aback by the man's honesty and accepted to become his wife.

Life at the Ironhills was just as Kevin described. There wasn't a single idle moment. If it wasn't helping blacksmiths identify and refine ores, it was helping injured lumberjacks and workers. She often delighted the earl's men with her harp at the end of the day. Never she had felt so drained and yet at the same time she was happy. She even had her first son by him, which both named Brian. And then the war struck out, and everything went down in a quick succession. Earl Kevin, thinking more with the heart than with the head, defied his lord, the duke of Harrighfield, and tossed his support in favor of the King and his father-in-law, duke Weade of Whitelands, only to be cut down in the same battle as Rikard. While brave and commending, this did not bode well for Brier, who soon was in the wrong of a lynching mob who took her castle, spurred by the less than honorable family members of the Morrigh. Being accused as a witch who had twisted earl Kevin's mind, she was all but helpless when the mob killed her infant two-year-old son in a fit of rage and bloodlust, and threatened to burn her at the stake.

She was saved by the timely intervention of Ser Wilhem, a recently ordered knight who had been left behind to ensure the safety of the countess. The lad, although brave, did not survive the wounds sustained, no matter what Brier died, and in the end, she reluctantly buried the young, brave and unfortunate knight beneath a large oaktree, while she took his horse for herself, and headed north to seek refuge in the Forklands and Whitelands.

[b]Skills:[/b] Brier has an active mind, and she can engage in social conversation with practically anyone. She also knows how to cook decently, and she's greatly skilled at sewing and playing the harp. She can also sing quite well. More importantly, Brier can detect who lies to her by merely looking at the body language of the person before her. She is also a master healer, able to perform advanced bonesetting and even surgeries (where her sewing skills once again help), with the associated knowledge of herbalism. Last but not least important, Brier is an alchemist, and as such she can easily identify ores and create black powder and alchemic fire should she need to. Brier can also ride a horse quite decently.

[b]Dreams and fears:[/b] Brier dreams of getting back at the insult suffered in the Blackwood, and avenge her dead son by the mob, and then maybe start over a new life. She obviously fears losing more family members.

[b]Favored equipment:[/b] Brier usually is seen with her harp, although that one was lost when she was nearly killed. She always carries a hidden dagger in her thigh. Whenever she has to hit the road, it is not uncommon for her to carry a large knapsack with her healing materials as well as a staff for support. She also carries the Weade family ring and the Morrigh family ring.

[b]Extra:[/b]Brier is thought to have perished in the riot, if news of such reached the north.
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